October 21, 1947

Oct. 21, 1947

The first flight of the Northrop YB-49 flying wing jet bomber is made. The Air Force’s Northrop B-2 stealth bomber, when it debuts in 1989, will bear a family resemblance to this airplane.

Air Force Recruits Most New Airmen Since 2004, Making Goal Early

April 16, 2026

The Air Force achieved its goal of recruiting 32,750 Active-Duty enlisted Airmen for 2026 five months ahead of schedule, military officials said this week—its biggest recruiting year in more than two decades.

Air Force Seeks $3.2 Billion Plus-Up to Improve Aircraft Readiness

April 16, 2026

The Air Force is asking Congress for an additional $3.2 billion for spares as part of a larger push to increase aircraft readiness, Vice Chief Gen. John D. Lamontagne told Congress on April 15.

Boeing, Millennium Roll Out Mid-Sized Satellite amid Space Force Production Push

April 16, 2026

Boeing and its subsidiary Millennium Space Systems are rolling out a new mid-class satellite bus they say will provide commercial and defense customers flexibility at a time when the Pentagon is pushing for more production and speed.

Extra $475 Million Puts Hypersonic Interceptor Program Back on Track

April 16, 2026

A recent injection of $475 million has reversed delayed delivery timelines for the Pentagon’s hypersonic missile interceptor by several years, Air Force Lt. Gen. Heath Collins, director of the Missile Defense Agency, told congressional leaders in an April 15 hearing.

Air Force’s Experimental Ops Unit Flies and Maintains Anduril CCA

April 16, 2026

The Air Force put its semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the hands of operators, not just engineers or test pilots, for a groundbreaking exercise last week.

Space Force Kicks Off Effort to Build Airborne Targeting Satellites by Selecting Vendor Pool

April 16, 2026

The Space Force has selected an initial pool of vendors that will compete to build sensors and satellites that track airborne targets, as Pentagon officials push to transform the capability from a prototyping effort to an operational one.

Air Force Seeks Massive Budget Boost for Fund That Helps Manage Spare Parts

April 16, 2026

The Air Force is asking Congress for a major infusion of cash into a little-known fund that manages spare parts In its 2027 budget request, as the service focuses on improving aircraft readiness.

Space Force Lays Out Vision For What It Thinks It Needs in 2040

April 15, 2026

The Space Force on April 15 released two highly anticipated future-casting documents that describe what the service expects the space environment will look like in the year 2040 and lay out the force structure it thinks it will need to operate in that environment.

Air Force, Navy Fighters Patrolling for Threats During US Blockade of Iran

April 15, 2026

U.S. Air Force and Navy fighter jets are playing a prominent role in patrolling for threats as part of the U.S. naval blockade of Iran, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

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